Outbreak of African plague kills 38 pigs in Shirak
African plague epidemic has spread in three marzes of Armenia - Tavush, Lori and Shirak.
38 pigs were infected in four swine-breeding farms in Shirak with most cases reported in the village of Lusaghbyur.
Anushik Mnatsakanyan, Head of Shirak's State Veterinary and Food Safety Inspection, calls on the citizens to remain calm and not to panic as plague cases were not registered in other communities. The situation is under control, assures Anushik Mnatsakanyan.
Regional specialists are uncertain as to how the plague reached Shirak.
At present African plague is incurable. There is no remedy for it, not even a vaccine.
African plague does not communicate to other animals or people, but, to be on the safe side, specialists recommend avoiding eating pork of infected pigs. The epedemic is prevented through forced slaughter of animals and placing the infected settlement under quarantine.
In 2007-2008, the African plague led to slaughter of 20 000 pigs across the republic.
To date, some 900 pigs have been slaughtered in the country. The government has not decided the ways of compensating villagers who suffered losses because of the epidemic.
Tsayg TV, Gyumri
